Seasonal

By April M Barney
“The Santas used to be packed up after Christmas, but we are so fond of them that we now leave them out all year long. They remind me of Christmas and all the reasons for the happiness of the season.” —Misty Walker
“I like to think that our home reflects us and the [...]

Features

Cabinetry is the most important aspect of a kitchen; it aesthetically sets the tone of the room and creates functionality. Most importantly, it accounts for nearly half the price of a kitchen design or remodel. Forty-eight percent of a homeowner’s kitchen budget goes towards cabinets, according to a survey conducted by the National Kitchen Bath [...]

House Mechanic

For many in Central Virginia, fall is a favorite time of year, that wonderful period between the heat of summer and the cold of winter. Though we enjoy many outdoor activities during this period, homeowners should be mindful of the fact that the chill of winter is on its way. Fall is a great time [...]

Favorite Things

Anyone can welcome sunshine into their home, but not everyone can do it with style. That requires plantation shutters.

Always present in the decadent plantation homes of the South, plantation shutters are a statement piece. Using them throughout the house not only complements windows but brings continuity to a home.
“The appeal is that it’s window [...]

In The Yard

You know the thought has crossed your mind. It does each fall when the limp summer blooms look forlornly down at their roots. You think, “It’s time to empty those planters and pots.”
Wait a minute, let’s rethink this. Gardening doesn’t have to end in the fall. In fact, that’s just when the bugs and humidity [...]

Simply Southern

One of the more daunting tasks when entertaining is setting the table. When your guests walk into the eating area, whether it’s a formal dining room or a casual breakfast nook, you want your table to be inviting, engaging, and most of all, beautiful.
There is more to creating a memorable setting than simply placing a [...]

RSVP

When I was eight years old, I had Rheumatic Fever—a condition many doctors don’t even diagnose any more. Besides feeling tired at times, I felt great. Even so, my family doctor banished me to my bed for five months. For my family, it was a huge adjustment. My parents lost some of their freedoms and [...]

Culinary Corner

Tailgating is a learned skill – we learn through our successes and mistakes—and like most challenges, we keep trying to perfect our skills. We learn how to keep the food cold and/or hot—how to efficiently pack the car to maximize space, and the best sources for ‘help’—who has the best fried chicken, pimiento cheese, barbecue [...]

Hot Tips

If you’re like me, the mere thought of cultivating indoor plants creates the image of brown leaves and drooping blooms. Whether your challenge is that you have little time for maintenance or simply a less-than-green thumb, maintaining indoor plants can seem a daunting task. However with just a little knowledge and effort, anyone can turn [...]

Showcase Home

This is a story of how a simple, well-built turn-of-the-century house on Peakland Place was saved from demolition. Much to the delight of the Fontana family it was transformed into an elegant home with all of the modern amenities, just perfect for the family’s lifestyle.
Early in the 1900s a new subdivision was born. “It was [...]

The Power Of Color

The colors you choose for your walls affect your mood, how you feel about a room and your comfort level in that room. So choosing the right color for a home office presents a special challenge; it’s part of your home, yet it’s also a place where you must be productive, whether you use the [...]

Design Line

When I was a senior at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, my literature professor suggested in our last class that someday we consider joining a “book club” to foster our love of reading and lifelong learning. With snickers and sidelong glances, most of us dismissed the idea. Book club, we scoffed. Though we were indeed lovers of [...]

Around Town

Lynchburg Historical Foundation Annual Tour features Diamond Hill Historic District

Located immediately south of downtown Lynchburg, Diamond Hill was one of the city’s most prestigious neighborhoods at the turn of the 20th century. The area is not truly a hill, but a ridge extending from the high bluff that runs parallel to the James River.
Diamond Hill [...]